Opal Hot Springs and Holiday Park Hot Pool Details :: Okauia Springs Road, Matamata, Waikato :: nzhotpools.co.nz for the hot pools, hot springs, geothermal pools of NZ

This is our favourite pool and camping ground we have discovered in our fine country! After reading all the reviews below, I can only assume that some people would prefer a big generic public pool with no character (and lots of lifeguards). The reason we loved this pool was for its retro quirkiness, the freedom to relax without lots of people, and of course the most amazing private pool ever. We have uploaded some photos of the whole complex, taken specifically because we found this place so artistically retro. If you want modern, first class facilities go to Hanmer Springs, but if you want a cheap, fun camping ground combined with lovely private pools, (not to mention a mighty fine lolly selection) I recommend a visit. [Fiona, Auckland]

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My Experience

I visited this hotpool sometime in March 2005. I only swum in the three outdoor pools, one of which has swimming lanes and was very cold. The other two weren't much warmer really. Quite disappointed. They have indoor private spas too but I didn't see them. They also have an outdoor private pool with mysterious dark water, but I was too cheap to pay extra to swim in it.

23 Bather Reviews

very very basic for the cost, if I knew I had to stand in a pool, I would have stayed home & used my own spa pool

Lorraine
Rating: 1/10 9th May 2010
have stayed at this camp ground at least 1/2 doz times in the past 18mths because it was dog friendly. Recently the manager made an issue of the breed of my dog and seems to have become an overnight expert on which dogs are vicious by simply glancing through the car window, my dog sitting quietly in the back seat without showing any sign of interest in him as he stood by the open window and informed me that he wouldn't allow her breed into the camp is the reason I will never visit this place again even without my dog.She is well disiplined,always under control and kept well away from other campers at whatever camp grounds I stay in,she is not a barker and is not actualy a vicious breed.The owner needs be aware that any dog, even the most innocuous looking ones are capable of biting when they feel threatened.The 'dogs by prior arrangement' sign should be removed and the manager could take a good look at his lack of public relations skills,his misjugdement is an insult to me as a responsible dog owner

ian - nz
2nd March 2010
quite disapointed really the spa was in a state of disrapear although rustic in looks but a simple spruce up and a lick of paint wouldnt go a miss. We booked a private spa for two hours were basicly kicked out after an hour an a half was told my time keeping was wrong, I have never had any problems with reading time before, was rudely treated from begining to end. the only positive about the whole experince was being charged half of the price of my surposed going over our time and the

greg morrison - new zealand
Rating: 1/10 24th May 2009
I have been going to opal springs for 40 years now, and have seen many changes over the years . I have read many reports here and saddened by some of them. This is an old campground that hasn't had a major revamp, the price charged reflects the camp condition, If you want to have security guards , staff in uniform, pool attendants then dont go here. This is not a $ 40 dollar a night camp ground, its a $12.00 with free pools thrown in. Parents look after their own kids, there are no nannys here to do it for you. The mineral pools are cleaned every 2nd night and the main pool is a tepid pool chlorinated and filtered. These pools have lots of plant, scrub, etc all around it and its a windy site, so leaves do get into the pool . Its not a pristine glow in the dark camp site and the price reflects this. I have had many really enjoyable evenings soaking in these pools, talking to the other campers. Its a friendly social evening ritual. I do notice a difference in those that camp and those that rent the cabins, a totally different breed of people. I have seen many arguments at this park over the years many petty but mostly caused by cabin renters forgetting that the campers go there for peace and quite and a fun friendly environment. The things some cabin renters do have shocked me to the core many times, and that they believe they own the place because they are there with a few family over a few years. I do enjoy this park, the price is right, and Dave and Gwen do the best they can but they cant please all the people all the time, so there will always be conflict. I have told many friends about this park and will continue to do so. Its a central area so once the tent caravan is set up, you can safely leave it and go away each day and visit many places within an hours drive.

Don leitch - Auckland
Rating: 6/10 18th March 2009
We ventured over there a few weeks ago after finding the Te Aroha pools closed due to someone pooping in them. The pools are clean and the surroundings plain but presentable. However, the water was far too cold. The small "hot" pool which according to the sign was 39°C, was probably more like 28°C. The middle pool was much colder than the sign suggested and the large pool may as well not even be heated - best description of it would be "tepid". I don't understand why people who own such establishments can't spend a bit more time and effort in their upkeep and presentation, and actually have the pools as hot as what the signs suggest!

PRV - NZ
Rating: 5/10 19th February 2009
Visited on the weekend. . Having read the reports on this site I asked if I could see the pools first. Very clean and the changing rooms were spotless. Mineral water always stains brown and this was the stain that was viewed on the rim of the pool. The mineral water is simply a darker colour. Sure it could do with a coat of paint but the entry fee is every modest and it is clean. I enjoyed my visit

Jacqui - Auckland
Rating: 7/10 11th November 2008
What a grotty place, pools looked green, rubbish laying around pools also had some in pools, bits of stuff flowting in water, walls falling with rot into pools, worst of all you can see a scum line around the middle pool, no life guards or staff member to be seen anywere, This place is not for me and i will never go back. Yuck!!!!!

Peter - Hamilton
27th October 2008
Ten out of ten for the private pool - I dont even bother going in the larger pool at all. The woman owner is rude. She seemed to think we had booked earlier than we had and almost growled at us because we were late - despite the fact we were there ten minutes before we had booked in? Def make the trip, but stick with the private pool at the bottom - take some wine and cheese. Bliss! It is gorgeous.

natalie - Hamilton
Rating: 7/10 19th August 2008
I had my wedding here 1 year ago, & we had the most amazing experiance ever! the owners were very accomodating for us & our guests, who continue to rave about our wedding & what a great place it is to go. We had an incident with a wedding guest being assulted by another of our guests, however the owners waved away our apologies for the noise & said we cant control everyone. All the non-guests at the park came & enjoyed the night too. We still continue to go on & off & I will be taking friends from the UK there this weekend!

Zanna - Pukekohe
Rating: 10/10 22nd May 2008
We as owners would like to respond to comments made in this column, the sentiments expessed by some are quite amazing and completely opposite to the comments made to us personally from our many customers. these customers have helped us build the business up over the last several years and introduced many more new customers and friends, we can only presume some people are unhappy with being asked to comply with Holiday park rules including those covering pets. We also don't think people should take offence to inquires regarding stolen property, taken during the night from outside of some of the accommodation. We are not in the habit of accusing people, only asking if anything may have been heard. It is stated that this family have come here many times over the last 15 years, well, we have only been here for the last 3 1/2 years, their family names may have changed several times but are not known to us, where as all of our regulars know us by name and communicate regularly. Some people just like to think they can stay a few times and own the place, then get upset when asked to respect the facilities and follow the rules. We sometimes need to have the park looked after by temporary managers ( we also have family issues to deal with) and although they may not have our experience , they do have our support

dave
13th May 2008
Never coming back again, Gwen (the owner) is a nasty person with no confict resolution skills, seemed to be quite judgemental, treated us as though we had germs, spoke down to my wife and scared our little fellas 7 & 5, one of whom is so shy and quiet it's hard for us to get him to speak out, he cried and cried because she was so nasty to us, I hope she reaps what she sows, never again. Cheap and nasty beds, ended up sleeping on floor!! Dirty cabins, pools disgusting.

jarrod wong - auckland
7th April 2008
My family have been coming to these pools every year for about 15yr+, we have had the worst experience since the new owners have taken over, argumentative, treated my family with such disdain, we will never return, since the new owners have taken over the place has gone to the dogs, cabins are not clean regularly, had left over food and rubbish on the floor in our cabin from the last tenants, the beds are falling to peices and cups and plates are brown, were orginally white, some idiot local kids trashed the golf course and stole the fire extingushers from opal, we were blamed for it, for goodness sakes, we are all 30+ yrs, one of us is an Abuse counsellor (50yrs) some of us run other peoples companies, and another is a nationally reknowned Musician, as if we would lower ourselves to childish antics, I told the owner we have been coming here for years for our fathers company golf tournament, so we know how to respect the place, her reply was: Which tournament, What golf course, I have never seen you here before!! As if she is FBI or something. One of the other residents was so disgusted with the way we were treated, she packed her family up and left one day early, she heard the new owner gossiping about our family with other residents. I found Gwen completely without customer service skills and she is well and truelly in the wrong line of work, We have x5 sets of families that we book for, totalling 22 ppl,(we have some little additions now), they are missing out on some big money from us now, I agree totally with Teresa Julian's comments, exactly how we see the new owners. We have blacklisted this park to everyone we know with a huge email being sent all over new zealand. **Some text removed by admin**

faye wong - auckland
7th April 2008
The place has good facilities but the new managers have no people skills at all. My son was punched in the face after one of their permanant residences was asked to stop sexually hasseling two girls aged 14 and 15. The managers then called the police on the boys rather than deal with a permant rewsident who is a public menace. These managers have no conflict resolution skills and are argumentative. They resort to calling the police rather than facing their own short comings in dealing with the public. I would not advise anybody who wishes to relax to patronise this place. I have stay here on many occasions but never again.

Teresa Julian - Hamilton
10th March 2008
The most beautiful place to relax. Totally tranquil. So affordable! Ramaroa private pool is heaven and addictive. The owners are very friendly peaceful people, who are unobtrusive masters at sharing their slice of heaven and ensuring you are getting all that you want. Well worth the drive from Hamilton to cure my troubled back aches. Better than any physio or back treatment I've ever had. It really works overnight.

Sharleyne - Hamilton
Rating: 10/10 11th July 2007
I had a fun holiday camping at Opal Hotsprings with my children. They loved the big pool and I loved the two natural outdoor public pools. The temperature of the big pool was a little cool for my liking, but it was an awful lot better than cold bathing! I liked the fact that two of the pools weren't chlorinated. The private Ramaroa pool was booking for the experience.

Diana - Auckland
Rating: 6/10 24th April 2007
We have been coming to Opal springs now for many years - first tenting, then caravaning and now motor homing. We have been at the camp in the middle of winter and boy are those warm pools welcome at that time of the year! Our two children learned to swim in the warm waters (they do not enjoy the cold!) When Ramaroa pool was "re-vamped" many years ago, we were the first to partake in the beautiful surroundings - so peaceful and quiet and the beautiful clear water straight out of the spring.. We still enjoy soaking in Ramaroa Pool, but not in the middle of a hot summers day - best time is in the evening - and even better is on a cold winters night when there is a frost on the ground!!

eleanor and roy - wellington
28th January 2007
For families opal springs would be hard to beat. The big pool has a slide into the pool which my school-aged boys loved. I sat in the hot shallow pool with my toddler and watched the boys in comfort. The owners are friendly and very accomodating. We stayed in the motel units which were comfortable - when the kids weren't in the pools they were on their bikes riding around the camp. The ramaroa pool is great for a secluded soak away from the masses - very romatic by candle light at night

Denise - Auckland
Rating: 8/10 26th November 2006
This is a very special place, the Ramaroa pool, a completely private pool set in rustic ruins of the original pools. We make a trip probably once a month, on our own or with friends & family. Reasonable at $8 for a half hour but often I book two spots. Has a different character day to night, day you can see the the water is perfectly clear, the setting is very rustic and surroundings bushlike. At night its feels like you're in a different world, very peaceful and relaxing, a torch and candles are a good idea for extra lighting. There is also private spas/pools and the large pool area but these are nice/average. Book ahead for Ramaroa, esp weekends & holidays.

Wendy - Te Awamutu
Rating: 9/10 5th September 2006
I went there last week. I went to their private pools. I won't say that they are the best but it is some sort of cool.

Zoe - New Zealand
Rating: 3/10 9th July 2006
My family make the short trip to opal hot springs around twice a year and absolutely love it . These pools cater for pretty much everyone in my family the big out door pools for my kids and the romantic outdoor private pools for my husband and I. Not to mention the great over night cabins from backpackers to the full on weekly stays with the cheapest rates around for miles. Needless to say my family and I recommend it to everyone . Happy camping and swimming ( friendly staff that bend over backwards for you too)

Tash - New Zealand
Rating: 9/10 14th June 2006
I really enjoyed these hotpools. They are value for money and one of the cheapest Ive been too. I really enjoyed the private pool the most. Very nice atmosphere with lush green vegetation to great as you make your way down the grove to a hidden pool that reminds me of ancient roman ruins. I really dont know what racheal was talking about. I find them better than the Te Aroha pools and the Waingaro ones. As the Te Aroha are too small and expensive with only a short time period to use them, while the Waingaro ones lack showers, privacy, and is set up for rugby heads and pool parties... not an atmosphere I like when I want to relax.

Catherine - Hamilton
Rating: 7/10 30th March 2006
While the private outdoor pool was nice it wasn't worth the drive from Hamilton.

Rachel - Hamilton
Rating: 5/10 28th March 2006
The large pool was a bit too cold for a winters evening swim. 2 really nice hot pools, one quite deep and one quite shallow.

Alice Aged 11yrs - Matamata
Rating: 8/10 24th July 2005

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Opal Hot Springs and Holiday Park

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